The Power of Empathy with Animals

Last night, I had a dream I can only faintly recall—blurry edges, unfamiliar faces—but the feeling was unforgettable. We were all discovering superpowers within ourselves. In the final scene before I woke up, a girl stepped forward to demonstrate her ability to fly.

And just before she took off, I remember thinking, I've had dreams like this before. I knew exactly how she was going to do it—how she would bend the rules of gravity, lift off, and soar. It was the same way I’ve flown in my own dreams, where I could feel the very mechanics of flight—how my body aligned with the energy, how I willed myself to navigate through the air with ease and freedom..

I woke up this morning with a surge of clarity and a message that couldn’t wait: it’s time to remember our gifts. It’s time to reconnect to the part of us that knows how to fly—literally or metaphorically—and today, we begin by looking to our Spirit Animals.

Because here’s the truth: empathy is a superpower.

It’s the quiet kind of power—soft, often overlooked—but it has the ability to heal, connect, and transform everything it touches. One of my greatest superpowers is my ability to empathize with animals—to feel their energy, to see the depth in their eyes, to understand their emotions without a single word.

And I don’t believe this gift is unique to me. As humans, I believe we all have it.

As children, many of us naturally connected with animals. We talked to our pets, chased butterflies, watched birds with wide-eyed wonder. But somewhere along the way, society told us to toughen up, to stop imagining, to disconnect. We were taught that animals were “lesser,” that their pain was irrelevant, that our survival depended on ignoring theirs.

But what if that conditioning was wrong? What if reconnecting to that childlike empathy—reclaiming the soft, intuitive knowing we once carried—was actually the path to our greatest strength?

It’s no secret: humanity is at a turning point.

In modern society, many of us have been indoctrinated into a life of disconnection—from Mother Earth, from animals, and even from the plant life that gives us breath and nourishment. We’ve been conditioned to believe that the Earth exists to serve us, and so we work endlessly to acquire more—more things, more status, more materials—most of which are extracted directly from the Earth’s resources.

But here’s the truth: we are the Earth.Her soil makes up our bones. Her waters flow through our veins. Her breath fills our lungs. We are made of her, and we continue to rebuild ourselves—cell by cell—from what she provides.

As I shared in my very first post, the health of the planet is a mirror of our own. When the Earth is thriving, so are we. But when she is sick, diseased, or depleted… so too are we, in body, mind, and spirit.

Humans are often seen as a virus to the planet, a species that’s destroying the very world that sustains our existence. And while that may feel true in moments of despair, there’s another side to this story: we are also the only species with the consciousness, technology, and heart-power to save ourselves—and every other race living on this planet.

Empaths especially can feel the pain of the planet. It’s why we often carry an unspoken heaviness, why so many of us are sensitive to suffering we can’t always explain. Deep down, we know something isn’t right.

We’ve turned our backs on the cruel realities of factory farming, justifying it with the narrative that it’s necessary for survival. But more often than not, it’s not about survival—it’s about entertainment. It’s about indulgence. It’s about feeding desires disconnected from reverence.

There’s a difference between hunting or raising meat with sacred intention and awareness… and blindly supporting a system that tortures sentient beings for convenience and profit.

And deep down, we know that too.

So, how do we begin to reconnect?

How do we remember our place within nature—not above it?

We begin by returning to our roots… through the animals.

All around us, animals are living reminders of balance, instinct, and presence. They do not over-consume. They do not destroy their habitats for the sake of status or profit. They live in harmony—with each other, with the land, and with the greater cycles of life and death.

Each animal carries a specific frequency, a unique set of wisdom codes that can support us in remembering who we truly are. When we connect with the energy of a Spirit Animal—whether in meditation, dreams, or through signs in our everyday life—we’re tapping into ancient guidance that’s always been available to us.

Some animals show up to offer protection. Others come to awaken courage, creativity, playfulness, agility, or strength. These aren’t just metaphors—they are mirrors for the parts of ourselves that want to rise.

When we honor the animals, we honour those parts of ourselves. And when we embody their energy—consciously, with reverence—we begin to live in a way that is more aligned with the natural world, with our inherent nature… and with our true purpose here on Earth.

On Meat, Climate, and Seeking Alignment

In complete honesty, I’ve reintroduced meat into my diet since moving back home - and I can feel it's effects on my body, which may be amplified by my own knowledge and guilt of where the meat is from. This is a big part of why I feel so drawn to travel—especially to places where plant-based living is not just sustainable, but natural… where warm weather allows for abundant local produce and where community living supports mindful eating.

I want to live in a way that feels fully aligned—not just for my body, but for the planet, and for the animals I feel so deeply connected to.

Why Everyone Should Have at Least One Animal Companion

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." – Anatole France

I deeply believe that every person—if possible—should share their life with at least one animal in their lifetime. A soul who is completely dependent on them… but who will love them more purely than most humans ever could.

Preferably a dog or cat—beings that can reflect unconditional love back to us on a daily basis.

Growing up, I didn’t have a pet as a child - we didn't get our family dog until I was 18, and I didn’t adopt my cats until my twenties. But ever since then, my capacity for empathy has expanded in ways I never could’ve imagined.

Living alongside animals has both softened and strengthened me.They’ve taught me how to listen without needing words, how to feel energy, how to love without conditions. They’ve also helped awaken a part of me that can see the spirit inside every creature. And once you see it… you can’t unsee it. It changes how you eat. How you live. How you love.

The Practice of Empathic Observation

Let’s begin with something simple… yet profound.

This is “Animal Communication 101.” Or as I like to call it—Soul Gazing with Animals.

Today, I invite you to go outside. Find a moment to pause and quietly observe a living creature—whether it’s a bird fluttering between trees, a squirrel digging through leaves, a duck by the pond, or a bee dancing among flowers.

Watch without judgment. Don’t project human stories onto them. Instead… just feel. Let your heart speak. Imagine what they might be sensing, what emotions they might carry. What are they teaching you?

Animals exist in a state of presence that we humans often forget. But by watching them—by feeling into them—we slowly begin to remember. Remember what it feels like to be in our bodies. To trust our insticts and to feel connected to universal energy.

Move Forward with the Spirit of Animals

Last night’s dream keeps echoing in my heart. That girl—so effortlessly taking flight—reminded me of something I already knew but had forgotten: that the power to defy gravity, to rise above what weighs us down, lives within us.

Maybe you’ve had dreams like that too. Dreams where you could fly, breathe underwater, speak to animals, or move through worlds untouched by time. These dreams aren’t just stories, they’re whispers from your spirit, nudging you to remember what’s already inside you.

When we connect with animals (whether it’s through a pet’s eyes, a bird in the trees, or even a dream) we unlock parts of ourselves that have been dormant. We awaken ancient gifts. The strength of the lion. The intuition of the wolf. The joy of the dolphin. The freedom of the eagle.

Whether literal or metaphorical, these animal spirits live within us, waiting to be remembered. And when we start to truly see them, when we honor the animals around us, we begin to see ourselves more clearly too.

So today, take a moment to feel into that wild part of you. The part that remembers how to fly. And know that every time you connect with the spirit of an animal, you're not just learning about them—you’re reawakening the magic that has always lived inside you.

Welcome back, wild one. 🐾✨

Mantra of the Day:

“As I honor the animals, I remember my own nature.

As I awaken their gifts within me, I rise.

I trust the magic in my spirit, and I allow myself to fly.”